Not All Fun and Games...

Just in case you think all this Farmgirls Country Sale stuff is all fun and frolicking...

Major surgery...

Clamps and more clamps!

The dresser was a pretty good deal but of the three drawers - one needed to be remade and the other glued.  So hubby had his work cut out for him.  He spends many hours fixing things the right way and has so much patience...I have none so we work pretty good together.  I make the lists of things that need to be done and he works on the list.

This style dresser was probably made in the 1930's - looks like one that Sears carried in an advertisement I saw online.  It was probably part of a bedroom suite made after the depression for newly married couples just starting out in life.

Couldn't get a good view of the mirror - so unique!

I love all the detail and the mirror is so lovely.  It's always a good feeling when its out of surgery and home in the Farmgirls barn!  He got it done in plenty of time for the sale Sept. 2 and 3.  Whew!

Take care,
Bonnie

Big Honking Drawer Table

Who would think that you could make a table out of a drawer?  Well - we found one and now when we find another big honking drawer, we will make another table.

So the table is basically a large drawer from a good sized (hence the "honking" adjective) dresser or cabinet.  The legs are other pieces of repurposed wood and the hinged top is another part of the dresser/cabinet.

I really love this look!!!  With the hinged top, its very versatile and easy to store some of my bizillion magazines.  I can see this painted a cool color and used in the kids' bedroom for dolls or transformers or color books and crayons/markers.  I'm off to find some orphan drawers but this one is for sale at our next Farmgirls Country Sale on Sept. 2 & 3.

Take care,
Bonnie

The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap

The Great Big Stitched Postcard Swap is complete for me!  It's my second one and this week I received my postcard from Nicola from London, UK! 

Isn't it gorgeous!!!  At first I thought it was cut from a silk piece of fabric but Nicola silk screened it!  I just love the colors and the enormous amount of work she went through to make this postcard for me.

I was late in mailing mine to Julia in Liverpool, UK - time seems to get away from me.  In my haste to mail it, I forgot to take a picture of it so I'm relying on Julia to post something and then I'll share it with you.  The directions are very clear but it was dark when I finished it last night and then I can't take a picture and yada yada yada...

Thank you again, Nicola!

Bonnie

An Afternoon with My Dad

I do have a couple of crafty blogs almost ready to finish up but today I had a great day and wanted to share it with you.

It started off with a haircut - when you have short hair like I do, its important to get it shaped (in my case - actually needs lots of thinning and cutting) every 4 weeks.  So that was good.

Then it was errands and a little shopping before I went to Curves after which 14 Curves friends celebrated our August birthdays.  So much fun - very good food - and lots of laughter!

I had to leave before everyone else did because I was going to see my Dad!  My hubby fixed his park bench and I went to paint/stain it for him.  When I got there he had begun the project.  Dad is 87 and still pretty sharp but his painting skills have definitely gone down hill and I'm not an expert.  First of all he was staining in the sun so things got sticky/tacky and uneven.

So together we finished staining the bench.  It was fun for both of us.  So I stayed and he talked and I listened and it was great.  I sure love my Dad!

Bonnie 

"One Person of Integrity..."

Yesterday I received my BOMC2, (Book of the Month 2 - free shipping and most books are $9.95) selection, Daniel Silva's, Portrait of a Spy.  He's a great writer and the stories are complicated so I have to use most of my brain to keep things straight...part of my exercise program.

This title is part of his series about Gabriel Allon who is an art restorer, assassin and spy, which explains why his stories are so interesting.  This is his 14th book if I've counted right - his last was The Rembrandt Affair (excellent.)

I write this tonight because I wanted to share one of the quotes in the front of this book,  "One person of integrity can make a difference, a difference of life and death" - Elie Wiesel.  Mr. Wiesel is such a wise and brave man. 

Elie Wiesel (1928 -)

Elie (Eliezer) Wiesel is a novelist, journalist and 1986 Nobel Prize winner. He was born an Orthodox Jew in Rumania and survived the concentration camps.  What a life of integrity he has lived...and survived.  I want to read his biography next...in fact I think I have it here somewhere - stacks of books everywhere! 

I thought in this day and age of The Big Lie - say something totally false and repeat it and repeat it until some people think its the truth - we could all be inspired by this great hero. 

Take care, think about your hero, read a book and keep exercising!

Bonnie

I'm feeling uneven...

I'm having an issue with uneven energy.  It seems that either I'm running 90 miles an hour or I'm comatose.  It's beginning to worry me because I'd rather be comatose.

Just wondering if I'm alone or if you feel that way too.  Would you eat more protein or more chocolate? 

Tomorrow I begin a three day quilt retreat...just might be the event to put me on an even keel.  Bringing more chocolate than protein...I'll let you know what works.

Bonnie

Restocking is so Fun!

On the road again...

People often ask me where we get all the stuff for our sales.  "Everywhere!", I say!  And that's the truth.

This week I've been 85 miles south of my house on Tuesday to pick up a few things I won in an online auction - two shelves and a vintage folding sewing table.  Always fun to see what I really won vs what it looks like in the online picture.  Yay - not too bad but lots of gas. 

Ok - so I've got some painting to do!

However, it's MN Shop Hop time so I stopped at three quilt shops on my way and picked up a few pieces of fabric and some new quilting magazines.  And then I had to visit an antique shop across the street from the auction...picked up a nice little yellow magazine stand - for my new magazines and a cute little stool.

Might have to be aqua for my sewing room!

Oh, yes and then there was a garage sale that was open a day early so I got some really cool items there - large glass and copper vase-type containers that were filled with plastic fruit - ugh! - that will look really cool with pine cones or some silver glass ornaments or fresh evergreen branches.

On Wednesday, just down the road was a moving sale with lots of lampshades - remember the 12 to 1 ratio on whether the shade will look good on the lamp??? - got lots of stock now.  I love the 1930 -1940 style dressers and bought one that needs some lovin' and fixin' - gorgeous three paned mirror.  Can't wait until Bob fixes that one.  Mirrors are a very popular item - scored a beautiful ornate gold one and lots more great finds.

Hubby's truck was in the way so this is as good as it gets right now!

Today I headed to a town 45 minutes south of here to a Sisters Sale that I try to get to every year.  Our checkout counter came from there a couple of years ago for $5!  I love the tables made with the old iron sewing machine legs - got one!  Another old white, ornate chair and lots of cherry canisters (might live in my kitchen for a while) and a great real wood little cabinet with four drawers that needs to be a fun color. 

Needs some cherry fabric on the seat I think!

On the way home I spotted another interesting garage sale where I picked up a nice wicker coffee table, window mirror and two tablecloths along with other treasures.

So after I got home I had just enough energy to weed my weed garden (4' x 8') and sprayed for weeds.  I never use weed spray so hope it does the trick.  I did pick a hand full of sugar snap peas - so good in our salads tonight.  Not much for veggies this year - tomatoes are usually very plentiful but I've picked two good sized ones and the other 6 have been really small.  They still taste so good though.

Tomorrow is another trip up north to the Deerwood Summerfest see what we can find for the sale!  Meeting a good friend for the sale and lunch afterwards.  Oh ya - and then a visit to Wooden Nichols at Garrison on our way home.  Crystalie has such great stuff and fun ideas at her little cabin store in the woods!

Take care,

Bonnie

Satisfaction and Thankfulness

My life is meaningful when I have challenges or goals.  Some are little and some are gigantic.  I'm feeling satisfied today - another of my goals/challenges has been met.  Another successful Farmgirls Country Sale is complete. 



I usually work alone...I usually work best by myself.  But success breeds work and our occasional sales  - four sales instead of our usual two with three completed - would not have been possible without the help of family and friends.  They help us every year and this year all summer.  Some have rearranged trips, some have missed trips, some have been late to work, some have lost needed sleep and everyone worked in the stifling heat and humidity to the point of dehydration.  Thank you.

They need to know how much I appreciate their devotion.  I need to tell them to get back to their lives even though I will miss their companionship and expertise.  They are my team.

With deep appreciation,

Bonnie

Mirror, Mirror in my Hand!

Black and white photos intrigue me and these bathing beauties make me smile!  So I decided they needed to be preserved and viewed!  What better place to show them off but on a mirror???

Here's a couple pictures of other mirrors I've renewed/reloved with scrapbooking paper and Mod Podge:

Left - plastic mirror covered with tissue and Mod Podge
Center - lovely old silver mirror
Right - funky old wooden mirror

That's all for now folks!  See ya at our Farmgirls Country Sale Aug. 5 & 6th!

Bonnie